Brimless cap and method of use

ABSTRACT

A brimless cap comprising a brimless cap body including a left side and a right side; and a pair of fastener members configured to detachably secure the left side and the right side of the brimless cap body together to configure the brimless cap body between a wear configuration to don the brimless cap on a user&#39;s head and a storage configuration.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates to devices to wear and store a brimless, folding hat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the invention involves a cap comprising two zippers on each side; folds across the cap to fold said cap into a smaller shape; a band for adjusting the size of said cap for a person's head; two holes in the back for hooking said folded cap to a keychain and a pouch for storing, protecting and transporting said cap.

One or more implementations of the aspect of invention described above includes one or more of the following: the one or more folding mechanisms and zippers further configured to fold said cap into a small shape to be stored in the carrying pouch.

Another aspect of the invention involves a method of adjusting size of said cap for different head sizes by tightening or loosening the band on the back of the cap.

Another aspect invention includes the accompanying pouch, which has a zipper to open and close the pouch and secure the folded cap inside.

Another aspect of the invention involves a brimless cap comprising a brimless cap body including a left side and a right side; and a pair of fastener members configured to detachably secure the left side and the right side of the brimless cap body together to configure the brimless cap body between a wear configuration to don the brimless cap on a user's head and a storage configuration.

An implementation of the above aspect of the invention includes the pair of fastener members are a zipper to detachable secure the left side and the right side of the brimless cap body together between the wear configuration to don the brimless cap on a user's head and the storage configuration.

Another aspect of the invention involves a method of folding and storing a brimless cap comprising a brimless cap body including a left side and a right side; and a pair of fastener members configured to detachably secure the left side and the right side of the brimless cap body together to configure the brimless cap body between a wear configuration to don the brimless cap on a user's head and a storage configuration, the method comprising folding the brimless cap body in half to bring the fastener members together into a folded configuration; fastening the fastener members together so that the brimless cap remains in the folded configuration; tucking the top of the brimless cap body into the bottom of the cap; and placing the folded and zipped brimless cap body into a pouch and zipping up the pouch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a brimless cap;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the brimless cap;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the brimless cap;

FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of the brimless cap;

FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the brimless cap;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the brimless cap;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the brimless cap;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the brimless cap from, for example, the view of FIG. 2 , folded back onto itself and zipped up;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the brimless cap in a folded and zipped configuration;

FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of the brimless cap in a folded and zipped configuration;

FIG. 11 is a left side elevational view of the brimless cap in a folded and zipped configuration;

FIG. 12 is a right side elevational view of the brimless cap in a folded and zipped configuration;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the brimless cap in a folded and zipped configuration;

FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of the brimless cap in a folded and zipped configuration;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the brimless cap in an additionally folded configuration;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a pouch to receive, store, protect, and transport the brimless cap;

FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of the pouch;

FIG. 18 is a rear elevational view of the pouch;

FIG. 19 is a left side elevational view of the pouch;

FIG. 20 is a right side elevational view of the pouch;

FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the pouch;

FIG. 22 is a bottom plan view of the pouch;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the pouch shown in an open configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 , an embodiment of a brimless cap 100 will be described. The cap 100 includes a brimless cap body 105 with a fastener member (e.g., zipper member, hook and/or loop fastener(s)) 110 on a left side 120 of the cap 100 and a fastener member (e.g., zipper member, hook and/or loop fastener(s)) 110 on a right side 130 of the cap 100 seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively. The fastener member(s) (e.g., zipper members) 110 connect when the cap 100 is folded in half as seen in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 . The zipper 100 can then be zipped up to secure the cap 100 and maintain it in the folded and zipped configuration as shown in FIGS. 10 through 16 . The top of the cap 100 can then be folded down to further reduce the size of the cap 100 as shown in FIG. 17 . The cap 100 includes two holes 142 to receive a keychain and an adjustable strap 144 to adjust the size of the cap 100.

A pouch 150 shown in FIG. 18 can be used to store the cap 100 once it is in the folded and zipped configuration in FIG. 17 . The zipper 160 on the pouch 150 can be zipped up to secure the cap 100 inside. The pouch 150 includes a hole 152 to receive a keychain.

A main advantage of the folding cap 100 is that the cap 100 is portable and can safely be stored within the pouch 150 when it is in the folded and zipped configuration. Once in the folded and zipped configuration, the cap 100 can also function as a wallet by holding cards within folds 170. This may not be possible in existing caps, which cannot fold or be zipped up and so cannot be stored in the pouch 150. Existing caps cannot be folded to hold cards or function as a wallet. A hat brim cannot ordinarily be folded or zipped, so the removal of it has allowed for the cap 100 to be transportable.

A main advantage of the pouch 150 is that it can safely hold the cap 100 within it. While in the pouch 150, the cap 100 can act as a wallet. The pouch 150 protects anything held in the cap 100 while it is used as a wallet.

The above figures may depict exemplary configurations for the invention, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the invention. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated architectures or configurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additionally, although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in some combination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the present invention, especially in the following claims, should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term "including" should be read as mean "including, without limitation" or the like; the term "example" is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, a group of items linked with the conjunction "and" should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as "and/or" unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction "or" should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as "and/or" unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, although item, elements or components of the disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. The presence of broadening words and phrases such as "one or more," "at least," "but not limited to" or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. 

1. A brimless cap, comprising: a brimless cap body including a left side and a right side; a pair of fastener members having respective lengths and spaced throughout their lengths, the pair of fastener members configured to detachably secure the left side and the right side of the brimless cap body together to configure the brimless cap body between a wear configuration to don the brimless cap on a user's head and a storage configuration.
 2. A brimless cap of claim 1, wherein the pair of fastener members are a zipper to detachably secure the left side and the right side of the brimless cap body together between the wear configuration to don the brimless cap on a user's head and the storage configuration.
 3. A method of folding and storing the brimless cap of claim 1, wherein the brimless cap body includes a top and a bottom, the method comprising: folding the brimless cap body in half to bring the fastener members together into a folded configuration; fastening the fastener members together so that the brimless cap remains in the folded configuration; tucking the top of the brimless cap body into the bottom of the cap; placing the folded and zipped brimless cap body into a pouch and zipping up the pouch.
 4. A brimless cap, comprising: a brimless cap body including a left side, a right side, a top with a crown with an apex, a bottom with a lower peripheral edge; a pair of fastener members extending from the lower peripheral edge to the crown, and configured to detachably secure the left side and the right side of the brimless cap body together to configure the brimless cap body between a wear configuration to don the brimless cap on a user's head and a storage configuration. 